Building Setbacks & Zoning in Pasadena, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Pasadena, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Pasadena's RS and RM-12 development standards set side setbacks at 10 percent of lot width (5 to 10 feet), corner-side setbacks at 10 percent of lot width (10 to 25 feet), and rear setbacks from 25 feet in RS-1 down to 10 feet in RM-12. Front setbacks default to the blockface average but never less than 25 feet.
Pasadena Residential Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsPasadena, CA, Municipal Code § 17.22.040, Table 2-3 (Setbacks); § 17.22.050.A
Sides 10% of lot width, with a minimum of 5 ft, and a maximum requirement of 10 ft, and consistent with Section 17.40.160 (Encroachment Plane). Corner side 10% of lot width, with a minimum of 10 ft, and a maximum requirement of 25 ft. Rear 25 ft 10 ft ... Where 40 percent or more of the lots on a blockface in the same zoning district (excluding corner yards of reversed corner lots) are deve...
Structure Height Limits
Pasadena caps main structures in its RS districts at 28 feet on lots under 75 feet wide and 32 feet on wider lots, plus separate top-plate limits for each story. Municipal Code Section 17.22.040, Table 2-3, ties every height figure to the encroachment plane rules in Section 17.40.160.
Pasadena Residential Structure Height Limits
Some RestrictionsPasadena, CA, Municipal Code § 17.22.040, Table 2-3 (Height Limit)
Height limit (4) Maximum height of main structures at points noted. See 17.40.060 for height measurement, and exceptions to height limits. All structures shall also comply with the encroachment plane requirements of 17.40.160. Site less than 75 ft wide 28 ft, and within the encroachment plane (Section 17.40.160). Site of 75 ft wide or more 32 ft, and within the encroachment plane (Section 17...
Lot Coverage Limits
Pasadena caps roofed building coverage on RS and RM-12 lots at 35 percent, or up to 40 percent if everything above 35 percent is single-story. Lots of 7,200 square feet or less carry no maximum. Municipal Code Section 17.22.040, Table 2-3, sets the formula by lot size across the RS-1 through RM-12 districts.
Pasadena Residential Lot Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsPasadena, CA, Municipal Code § 17.22.040, Table 2-3 (Maximum Site Coverage)
Maximum site coverage Maximum allowed lot coverage of all roofed areas on the site. Site 7,200 sf or less No maximum. Site greater than 7,200 sf to 11,999 sf 35%; up to 40% provided any additional coverage over 35% shall be single-story only. Site 12,000 sf or more 35% or 4,800 sf, whichever is greater; any additional coverage over 35% shall be single-story only.
Looking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Pasadena city rules.
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